The US government entered a partial shutdown on Saturday after Congress missed a midnight deadline to approve a federal budget for 2026. The lapse came as negotiations over funding collapsed, largely due to Democratic objections following the deaths of two protesters in Minneapolis at the hands of federal immigration agents. Talks over new allocations for the Department of Homeland Security were left unresolved, triggering the temporary funding gap.
Senate Democratic Minority Whip Dick Durbin criticized the Trump Administration’s focus on protestors rather than criminal threats. “Instead of going after drug smugglers, child predators, and human traffickers, the Trump Administration is wasting valuable resources targeting peaceful protestors in Chicago and Minneapolis,” Durbin wrote on social media. He added that the administration’s actions “continue to make Americans less safe.”
About three-quarters of federal operations are affected by the shutdown, potentially impacting education, health, housing, and defense programs. Federal departments were expected to begin implementing shutdown procedures overnight, although congressional leaders indicated that a brief disruption was far more likely than a prolonged closure.
The House of Representatives was out of session when the funding deadline passed and is scheduled to return on Monday. Lawmakers are expected to vote on a Senate-backed budget deal early next week, which would restore funding within days and minimize the shutdown’s effect on government services, contractors, and federal employees.
President Donald Trump expressed support for the Senate package and urged quick action by the House. He signaled a desire to avoid a prolonged shutdown, which would mark the second such stoppage in his second term. Last fall, the federal government experienced a record-length shutdown that disrupted services for more than a month.
If the shutdown lasts beyond a few days, tens of thousands of federal workers could face unpaid leave or be required to work without pay until Congress approves funding. Officials stressed that even a brief funding lapse would cause disruptions, but a swift House vote could limit any practical impact.
The current impasse reflects ongoing tensions between the White House and congressional Democrats, who remain focused on accountability for federal law enforcement actions in Minneapolis. While the partial shutdown represents a temporary hurdle, lawmakers are under pressure to reach an agreement to avoid widespread disruption of federal programs and services that affect millions of Americans.
